Trend alert: Animal print

Lynn Jaeger by Tommy Ton

Ok I’m going to come right out and say it – I’ve never like animal print and don’t think, apart from once in about 1983, when I bought a pair of zebra skin (not real) pumps, I have ever owned an actual animal print item of clothing. Don’t get me wrong, I like it on other people, but for me its always ended up looking more back street, than front row and has never really worked.

But, as we all know the fickle finger of fashion occasionally points us in a different direction and suddenly I feel myself strangely drawn to the patterns loved by such style icons as Bet Lynch, Cat Slater and Jackie Collins. Maybe it’s something to do with the latest Burberry collection, which incidentally was stunning – at last, a Burberry collection we can lust after, rather than loathe – and featured animal skins/prints to die for.

Mixed with neutrals and black, animal print pencil skirts worn with chunky knitwear (tucked in – not an easy look, unless you have the waist of a15 year old) is the look of the season.

Pencil skirts are the new printed trouser – remember this, it’s important – well not really, but if you fancy a new skirt shape, it might as well be a pencil skirt.

Burberry A/W 2013

Stella McCartney was onto the head to toe leopard print look ages ago and features lots of (very expensive) leopard print in her Spring Summer range. Jaeger also have a whole leopard print collection, which is slightly more reasonably priced and looks easier to wear. I particularly love the raw silk coat.

Stella and Jaeger

Zara are bang on trend (as always) with their black and white animal print shirt and trousers – wear together for maximum impact, or with plain black if you’re not so daring.

My favourite way of wearing this look, however is slightly more casual, like the Whistles Taylor Sweat. Whistles are so good at that glamorous casual look! Also check out the rest of their animal print range.

Whistles and Zara

If you can’t quite bring yourself to wear animal print clothing, you could always try an accessory or shoe. There are a whole host of ridiculously expensive, stunning shoes on Net-A-Porter or alternatively, I love the Whistles classic black and white stilettos, at a much more reasonable £125.

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2 Comments

I am not a fan of animal print either it just looks gaudy to me for some reason, I especially dislike animal print shoes with a real abhorrance for the furry horse/cow hair things ugh. I am so unfashionable .